This paper describes Caribbean street festivals as celebrations that reflect the historic, climate, and movement patterns of the region. Celebrations such as Carnival, Hosay, and Jonkonnu are discussed, and it is proposed that study of these and other festivals can be linked to the five thematic generalizations often utilized by geographers. These…

This document contains information and instruction for teachers who want to include an ECO/SOCIAL Studies approach in their teaching of social studies. ECO/SOCIAL Studies is defined as an instructional/investigative strategy that focuses and individual's attention on the continuous inter-relationships and interdependence between natural and social…

Designed to accompany the 1994 "Geography for Life: National Standards for Geography," this supplement aims to provide teachers of American Indian students with useful ideas for classroom geography instruction. To facilitate teacher use in conjunction with the national standards document itself, the supplement follows the same format,…

This unit, to be used with students in grades 6-10, has been designed to serve three purposes. First, the unit acts as an introduction to, or review of, fundamental geographic concepts and vocabulary. Second, it teaches students about the basic physical and political geography of Latin America. Third, students learn to examine maps with a critical…

The criteria that elementary school teachers use to guide their decisions concerning content, sequence, and instructional strategy in geography and their frames of reference toward geography were examined through interviews and classroom observations. Research indicates that the teacher determines the curriculum that the students actually…

Primarily a collection of lesson plans covering various topics in geography, this document is divided into seven sections. The first section includes three short papers on geography and its place in the curriculum. The second section deals with teaching map skills, evaluating computer software to be used in teaching geography, and ideas for field…

Eight professional geography research papers presented at the Geography Section of the Ohio Academy of Science annual 1975 meeting are provided. The papers examine various aspects of the environment, energy distribution, cultural and geographic change, and ethnic distribution. The titles of the eight papers are (1) Racial and Ethnic Redistribution…

This resource paper on geographical theories of urban location is part of a series designed to supplement undergraduate geography courses. The basic reasons for a city are to be found in the activities it performs in a specialized society and the clustering of residences of workers employed in these activities. The city, therefore, remains a…

This technical report describes a digital computer program on the spatial structure of agricultural production and how it can be used in economic geography courses. Chapters one through four, respectively, (1) examine the use of digital computers in the teaching of college geography, (2) analyze the von Thunen theory which postulates laws that…

This is an instructional unit in cultural geography for the primary grades. The major objective of the unit, which is comprised of a Pupil Text/Workbook and Teacher Manual, is to develop the geographic concepts labeled resource and production. Teaching strategies used include the Pestalozzian method of asking leading questions to draw the students…

Uses the example of a trail near Lancashire in Northern England to explore the educational values of rural trails. Maintains that studying trails can enhance the appreciation and teaching of conceptual matters as well as develop students' skills for informed observation and interpretation of field evidence. Includes an area map. (MJP)

Provides a sequential set of instructions for creating a large playground map. Discusses the educational benefits of such a map, and suggests activities for using the map effectively. Stresses the usefulness of maps in teaching place identification, spatial patterns, and directional orientation. (RW)

Explains how a world civilization course at Butler University (Indiana) was significantly enhanced after a geographic perspective was used to introduce students to various cultures. Describes the units on China and pre-revolutionary Russia. Outcomes included a better understanding and appreciation for geography by both students and teachers. (GG)

Compared data on English first graders' understanding of geographical terms in 1991 with data from 1993, after two years of National Curriculum for Geography. Found no significant differences; children from both groups had restricted or inconsistent understanding of many terms, and often constructed their own meanings based on intuition or…

Presents an allegory based on the development and dissemination of the National Geography Standards. Uses the allegory to introduce a series of articles dealing with the Standards. Suggests that geography teachers acquire and use the Standards, entitled "Geography for Life: National Geography Standards." (CFR)